Oklahomans are reminded that manyareas of the state remain very dry and wildfire conditions may return.
Between November and April, fires left more than 550,000 acres scorched
and more than 800 homes damaged.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have worked to deliver more than
$16 million in aid to individuals and governmental entities impacted by the
state’s historic outbreak of wildfires.

Since November, wildfires
have inundated Oklahoma,
leaving 869 homes damaged -- 300 of those destroyed. Nearly 2,800 fires have left more than 550,000 acres scorched
across the state.

In January, Pres. George Bush declared a major disaster
existed in the State of Oklahoma
and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the
area struck by the extreme wildfire threat that began Dec. 1, 2005. Since then, OEM and FEMA
have processed more than 700 applications for Public Assistance from the state
and local departments and agencies that assisted in the wildfire response.
Nearly $7.9 million has been approved to cover these jurisdictions’ emergency
protective measures to include overtime paid to first responders, depreciation
on, repairs to and fuel for responder equipment.

Nearly $8.2 million has been approved under the Individual
Assistance program. Individual Assistance can include grants for temporary
housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and
other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects
of the disaster. Nearly three dozen applicants have received manufactured homes
under the temporary housing program. The majority of Individual Assistance was
in the form of Small Business Administration loans totaling $6 million. Another
$1.2 million was paid in housing assistance.